In the annual Battle of the Cats, the Pascagoula Panthers remain Kings of the Jungle in Jackson County.
With a 48-0 season-opening win at home against the rival Moss Point Tigers on Friday night, the Panthers were in full control of what seemed to be an unfair matchup on the field.
The Tigers opened the game with the ball near midfield after a failed onside kick by Pascagoula. Moss Point would quickly be forced to punt.
While both teams had very little success offensively to start the game, it was the Panthers defense that put points on the board first.
Pascagoula’s Jaylon Parnell picked up his second sack of the night, bringing down Moss Point quarterback Ke’von Ford in the end zone for a safety.
The rest of the game was dominated by the Panthers on both sides of the ball.
On the first play of the second quarter, Pascagoula’s Silas Corder connected with D’lass Nunnery for a 67-yard touchdown to make it 16-0 and give Corder another school passing record.
Corder broke the record, set by Shane Matthews in 1987, for career passing yards. Corder’s feat came in the same number of games as Matthews but with fewer attempts and completions.
Corder was 11 of 18 for 203 yards and three touchdowns and added one touchdown rushing.
Pascagoula improved its series record to 44-37-3, including 10-2 under coach Lewis Sims since 2011, and earned its fourth straight victory in the rivalry, including a 31-0 rout in 2023.
Sims, now 13-2 in this rivalry (3-0 with the Tigers), spoke highly of Corder’s record-breaking night.
“Silas has been a three-year starter for us,” Sims said. “He really doesn’t care if we run it or throw it. All he wants is the Pascagoula Panthers to win. To be that humble and work as hard as he has worked and put himself into position to break Shane Matthews’ record is incredible.”
Sims was pleased with his team’s performance and credits it to hard work and preparation.
“It all starts in the off-season,” Sims said. “These guys did a really good job in the weight room. They showed up and put in the work.”
Darius Carter, Tylan Wilson and Ladarion Pickett all had touchdown receptions and also finding the end zone was running back Sean Norvell on a 57-yard burst.
Mason Cramer added a 42-yard field goal late in the second quarter, proving to be another weapon in the Pascagoula arsenal.
Coming off of a second-round playoff exit last season, Pascagoula looks to keep improving.
“The goal every year is to be better than the year before,” Sims said. “I want these seniors to be able to leave a legacy here at Pascagoula High School and that started tonight.
“We are going to enjoy this win for the next 24 hours and start preparing for East Central.”
The Panthers will host the East Central Hornets on Sept. 6 at War Memorial Stadium.
